RE: [asa] How to be perfect, as we all must be to see God

Dick said:
"Is "truth about the universe" important? If someone believes the Bible teaches the world is six thousand years old or there was no death in the animal world until Adam made a bad choice because a "Christian" told him that, and he misses out on salvation because he believes therefore the Bible writers were less than inspired, then try to tell that poor soul enduring "wailing and gnashing of teeth" for all eternity that it wasn't something important."

This is very true. Some are so overly concerned about evangelizing the youth, then don't seem to care at all when they lose them when they get to high school or college (as soon as they learn a little science). It is like they think "Oh well, that's what happens when kids get corrupted by the world from these worldly schools. We need to do a better job of sheltering them (through home-schooling, etc.)."

Nobody can condone rude behavior, but sometimes the debate is over what constitutes "rudeness." That's why if there's a problem with rudeness, the specific example should be raised. Sometimes people are overly sensitive, and in a way they are being rude by calling others rude when they really aren't. There are people who whine and complain with no reasonable valid basis for it.

...Bernie

-----Original Message-----
From: asa-owner@lists.calvin.edu [mailto:asa-owner@lists.calvin.edu] On Behalf Of Dick Fischer
Sent: Wednesday, February 18, 2009 6:45 AM
To: 'Preston Garrison'
Cc: ASA
Subject: RE: [asa] How to be perfect, as we all must be to see God

Hi Preston, you wrote:

"The way to do that is to put love, the Spirit led love that knows

what is needed at every moment,above every other value, including the

truth about the universe and other people's sins and intellectual

failings."

Perhaps my perspective comes from reading books front to back instead of

starting in the middle and reading inside out, but as I see the first

mistake it was not in Adam's failure to love his God or his wife, it was his

failure to obey. How one would priortize love and obedience could be

debated, but love isn't all there is as the uninspired song writer put it -

and neither is obedience.

Christ told the Apostles to go into all the world and make disciples. Since

all the Apostles have died it falls on us to carry on the commission. What

would be the first thing we would tell someone inquiring about our faith?

God loves us might be the first thing. But in terms of how we react to the

love of God, from the standpoint of what we who love God should do, we show

our love for God by paying attention to his directives and obeying Him. And

one way we show obedience to God is by showing love for our fellow man. So

love and obedience may be intertwined a bit.

For me, I see roadblocks put in the way of people who might otherwise come

to Christ. Some of those roadblocks come from those who profess to know

Christ. I try to show my obedience to Christ's commission and my love for

my fellow man and concern for his mortal soul, by exposing fallacies that

serve as impediments to faith.

Is "truth about the universe" important? If someone believes the Bible

teaches the world is six thousand years old or there was no death in the

animal world until Adam made a bad choice because a "Christian" told him

that, and he misses out on salvation because he believes therefore the Bible

writers were less than inspired, then try to tell that poor soul enduring

"wailing and gnashing of teeth" for all eternity that it wasn't something

important.

Truth is important. Christ said, "I am the truth, the way, and the life

..." What comes first? If I offend thousands of sensitive Christians to

reach one person with the gospel and he is saved through Christ, then I'll

do it. And if I offend anyone on this list, I apologise.

Dick Fischer, GPA president

Genesis Proclaimed Association

"Finding Harmony in Bible, Science and History"

www.genesisproclaimed.org

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Received on Wed Feb 18 15:47:39 2009